clew

SayKLOO/klu/

Pluralclews

Verbclews, clewing, clewed

9 meanings of clew

Practice

1
nouncountable
The bottom corner of a sail, where a rope is tied to pull it into the right position.
Like the corner of a flag where you tie a string to hold it.
The sailor fastened the sheet to the clew before hoisting the mainsail.
Both clews were frayed after the long storm.
Note
2
nouncountable
Thread used to guide you through a maze and help you find the way back out.
Like leaving a trail of string so you can find your way back.
She unwound the clew behind her so she could find the way out of the maze.
Without a clew, the children got lost in the hedge maze.
Similarthread, clue
Note
3
verbtransitive or intransitive
To pull up the bottom corner of a sail.
Like gathering up the bottom of a curtain to lift it out of the way.
Sailors clew the heavy canvas when winds grow dangerous.
When the wind picked up, they clewed quickly.
Note
4
verbtransitive
To roll something into a ball.
Like winding string into a round ball.
Clew the loose thread before it tangles.
He clewed the wool into a tight ball.
Similarwind, roll, ball
Oppositeunwind, unroll
5
nouncountableplural
The ropes attached to the bottom corners of a sail.
Like the strings on a kite that you pull to steer it.
The crew tightened the clews to hold the sail steady.
He let out the clew to ease the sail.
Similarsheet
Note
6
nouncountableplural
The cords that hold up a hammock.
Like the strings that hold up a swing.
One of the clews snapped and the hammock dropped to the deck.
He checked the clew before climbing into the hammock.
Note

Less common meanings

7
nounarchaic
A ball of thread or yarn wound up together.
Like a ball of string rolled up neatly.
Grandmother kept a clew of wool in her sewing basket.
The kitten unrolled the clew across the floor.
Note
8
nounobsolete
A round lump or body shaped almost like a ball.
Like a round ball of clay.
The alchemist rolled the wax into a small clew.
If the whole troupe be diuided into many clewes, or round bunches, you need not then doubt but that there are many kings.
c. 1600, Charles Estienne and Jean Liebault, tr. Richard SurfletHere, clewes means round, ball-shaped bunches or masses.
Note
9
nounobsolete
Obsolete spelling of clue. You will only see this old spelling in very old books.
And I brought the only clew to be found.
1923, Robert Ervin Howard, Aha! or The Mystery of the Queen's NecklaceHere, clew is an old spelling of clue.
We may here have lighted on the clew to the great puzzle.
1870, Edward Augustus Freeman, History of the Norman Conquest
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of clew apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English cleowen, meaning a ball of thread or yarn.